Archery arrow



L. S. MEYER ARCHERY ARROW March 21, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 27,1959 INVENTOR LEONARD S- MEYER BY ggsggw nw-ggNEY, MILLER a.

1 Ln V 7 BY 7 lATTORNEY March 21, 1961 MEYER I 2,976,043

ARCHERY ARROW Filed Feb. 27, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LEONARD S. MEYER BYGORBETT, MAHONEY, MILLER &

RAMBO, ATTYS.

W24 72%! ATTORNEY INVENTOR Unit States atent 2,976,043 Patented Mar. 21,1961,

ARCHERY ARRoW Leonard S. Meyer, Waverly, Ohio, assignor to ParallelProducts Company, Columbia, S.C., a corporation of South Carolina FiledFeb. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 796,083

7 Claims. (Cl. 273106.5)

My invention relates to an archery arrow. It has to do, moreparticularly, with the fietchings of an arrow and to a method ofapplying the fletchings to the shaft of an arrow.

Fletchings are the feather vane members used adjacent the trailing endsof the shafts of arrows to improve their performance in flight and theiraccuracy. It is usual to make these fletchings of actual feathers orsimulated feather material. The application of the feathers to the shaftis diflicult and time-consuming and cannot be adapted to economicproduction methods. Furthermore, it is difficult to firmly secure thefeathers to the shaft in such a manner that they will not be displacedthere- (from. Also, it has not been possible in the prior art to usematerials which will withstand the wear and shock of repeated use of thearrow.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applicationSerial .No. 661,712, filed May 27, 1957, which issued as Patent No.2,882,055 on April 14, 1959.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an arrow which hasfletchings mounted on the trailing end of the shaft accurately locatedand firmly secured thereon without danger of displacement during use,the fietchings being of material which will withstand repeated use andwill still function properly as guide means and stabilizer means duringthe arrow flight.

An other object of my invention is to provide a simple arrangement forapplying the fletchings to the arrow shaft which is capable ofadaptation to production methods.

A further object of my invention is to provide a fletching made ofelastic sheet material which is so designed and formed as to use theinherent nature of the material to permit mounting of the fletching onthe shaft but to cause positive retention of the fletching on the shaftwithout danger of displacement during use.

Various other objects will be apparent.

According to my invention, the fletchings are made of sections offlexible plastic sheet material. The sections are properly shaped andone or more are inserted in a longitudinal slot or slots in the trailingend of the shaft. Each slot extends diametrically or radially of theshaft and both ends open at surfaces of the shaft. It is spacedlongitudinally of the trailing end of the shaft as well as its leadingend so that both ends of the slot are closed and the shaft is anintegral unit with resulting maximum strength. Each fletching section ismainly flat and preferably has a pair of fletchings formed thereon alongits opposed longitudinal edges. To retain the fletching section inposition in the slot, stop shoulders or projections are provided whichengage the shaft adjacent the outer ends of the slot and prevent lateraldisplacement of the fletching section relative to the shaft. Due to thenature of the material of the fletching section, these projections orshoulders may be formed by outward displacement of the material from theplane of the fletching section. The inherent elasticity of this materialwill permit deforming or flattening of the projections to facilitateinsertion into the slot. However, as the deformed projections move outof the slot, they will again project from the plane of the section toserve as stops to engage the shaft at the ends of the slot to retain thefletching section in position in the slot.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 have illustrated fletchings on an arrowshaft in accordance with my in-. vention including several variationsthereof. It is to be understood that other variations may be madewithout departing from the basic principles of my invention.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an arrow having fletchingsthereon in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of a double fletching section beforeit is applied to the shaft.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along line 33 ofFigure 1 through the fletching section and associated arroew shaft;

Figure 4 is a similar sectional view showing the use of twodouble-fletching sections in a cross-shaped slot arrangement in theshaft.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the use of fourdouble fletching sections.

Figure 6 is a plan view similar to Figure 2 but showing a different typeof stop projections on the fletching section.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view through a shaft having'threefletching sections like the one of Figure 6 positioned therein. 7

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing a a differentarrangement of stop projections on the fletching section.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 but showing still anotherarrangement of projections on the fletching section.

With reference to the drawings, in Figure 1- I have illustrated thecomplete arrow which comprises the shaft 20 having the point 21, thefletchings 22 and the nock 23. As previously indicated, this inventiondeals with the fletchings 22 and the manner in which they are mounted onthe arrow. The fletchings 22 extend radially from the arrow shaft and inFigures 1 and 3 they are shown as being diametrically opposed. Theyextend from a diametrically extending slot formed in the arrow shaft 20adjacent its trailing edge but spaced therefrom and are fixed therein.

The shaft 20 may be of wood, plastic, or any other suitable material;The fletchings 22 may be formed of a suitable elastic sheet materialwhich can have stop projections formed thereon that will becompressible. Various plastic or rubber materials may be used such asnatural or artificial rubber film, and plastic film such as films ofolefines or polyethylene. I prefer to use polyethylene aud I haveactually used this material in producing the fletchings used accordingto this invention.

As indicated in Figure 2, a double fletching section 22a is provided forforming a pair of the fletchings 22-. This fletching section ispreferably of the feather shape shown and, as indicated above, ispreferably formed of relatively thin flexible plastic film material suchas polyethylene film. The fletching 22a is of elongated form and has acentral plane or flat band 25 extending the full length at thelongitudinal center line thereof. This band 25 is just slightly greaterin width than the diameter of the shaft 20 in which it is to beinserted. On' each side of the band 25 and extending the length thereofone of the fletchings 22 is formed and it will be noted that thesefletching areas 22 are provided with corrugations 26. These corrugationsserve to increase the strengthof each fletching 22 so as to betterresist air pressure during flight. However, a main purpose of thesecorrugations is to serve as stop projections which will retain thefletching section 22a in a diametrically extending slot 24 in the shaft20 as shown in Figure 3. The corrugations 26 are shown as extendingoutwardly from the band 25 toward both edges and are angularly disposedrelative to the band 25. It will be apparent from Figure 3 that theprojecting corrugations 26 are deeper than the width of the slot 24formed in the shaft 29.

The slot 24 is formed in the shaft 20 in any suitable manner and it willbe noted that this slot is elongated and extends diametrically throughthe shaft. It is formed just ahead of the trailing end of the shaft andboth of its ends are closed so that the shaft is integral even betweenthe rear end of the slot and trailing end of the shaft.

In inserting the fletching section 22a of Figure 2 into the slot 24 ofthe arrow of Figure 1, the outer edge of one fletching is passedtransversely o1- radially inwardly into one open side of the slot 24 andat the same time the corrugations of one fletching area 22 are flattenedto permit this transverse movement of the fletching section 22a. As soonas the corrugations 26 pass through the opposite open side of the slotthey will start to expand and when the plane band 25 moves intocoincidence with the entire area of the slot 24, the previouslycompressed corrugations of the one fletching area 22 will be completelyexpanded. Since the band area 25 is just slightly wider than that of theslot 24, the inner ends of the corrugations 26 on both of the fletchings22 will now be on opposite sides of the slot 24 and will engagediametrically opposed surfaces of the shaft 20. These projectioncorrugations will now effectively retain the fletching section in thearrow shaft 20 and prevent displacement thereof during flight. However,by exerting suflicient outward pull on one of the fletchings 22 tocompress the corrugations of the opposed fletching 22, the entiresection 22a can be removed for replacement in case of damage.

In Figure 4, I have illustrated now two of the double fletching sections22a can be used in a shaft 20:: which has a pair of diametricallyextending slots 24a therein to provide a cross-shaped slot arrangementin cross-section. The slots 24a have closed leading and trailing edgesas before. The fletching areas are provided with the corrugations 26 asbefore.

A method of the type illustrated in my said copending application SerialNo. 661,712 may be used in inserting the fletching sections 22a into theslot arrangement 24a. By this method, one of the sections 220 will be intwo radial portions of the slots with a pair of the fletchings 22integral and at right angles to each other and extending around theincluded angle of the shaft. Another pair of fletchings 22 will beformed by the section 22a inserted in the remaining two radial slotportions at right angles to each other. The fact that one-half of eachfletching section 22a is disposed in each adjacent radial slot portion,to form fletchings 22 at right angles to each other will tend to keepthe fletching sections in position on the shaft. Furthermore, theextended corrugations 26 at the outer end of each of the radial portionsof the slots 24a will keep the fletchings 22 in the positions shownunless they are positively pulled therefrom, since as before, thecorrugations 26 are deeper than the width of the slots 24a.

In Figure 5, there is shown an arrangement similar to that of Figure 4but the fletchings 2212 are each doubled. The fletching sections 22a forforming each pair of fletchings 22b can be inserted in the same manneras in Figure 4, but in this instance, there will be four sections 22::used instead of two so that each radially projecting fletching 22b willbe double with the corrugations 26 thereof nesting. The double fletchingfilm will fit snugly in the slots 24b in the shaft 20b. The corrugations26 will, in this example, again be deeper than the width of the slots24b which are shown as being double the width of the slots 24a in Figure4, and thus they will normally prevent displacement of the fletchingsections 22a.

As previously indicated, a different number of slots can be used andthese need not be diametrically disposed intersecting slots but may beradial slots which join at the center of the shaft. Thus, in Figure 7, 1show three radial slots 240 in the shaft 200. Three sections 22c of filmmay be used in these slots which will result in double fletchingsprojecting outwardly from each slot. In this arrangement, the fletchingsections may be of the corrugated form in Figure 2 or may be of adifferent nature, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

In the fletching section 22c shown in Figures 6 and 7, instead of thestop or lock projections being corrugations, they are formed as a pairof elongated parallel ribs 26b. The hand area 2511 between the two ribs26b will be slightly greater than the diameter of the shaft 20c in whichit is mounted. Thus, one of the ribs 26b will be at the outer end ofeach radial slot 24c. Since the ribs 2612 will be deeper than the widthof the slots with which they are associated, normal displacement of thefletching sections 22c will be precluded. The ribs 26b of adjacentfletching sections 220 may be opposed, as shown in Figure 7, or may benested, if desired, and in either case they will serve as projectionswhich can be compressed during insertion of the fletching sections 220but which will expand after insertion to serve as stop projections.

In Figure 8, a similar fletching section 22d is provided but short stopribs 26d are provided which are longitudinally spaced as well aslaterally spaced. The lateral spacing is slightly greater than thediameter of the shaft into which the section 22d is to be inserted.

In Figure 9 another fletching section 22:: is ilustrated in which smallteats or projections 26s are arranged in two rows of longitudinallyspaced projections. The rows are spaced from each other slightly greaterthan the diameter of the shaft into which the section 22B is to beinserted. The teats 262 project from the plane of the fletching section22a to an extent greater than the width of the slot into which thefletching section is to be inserted.

Any fletching section 22a, 22c, 22d, or 22e, can be used in any of theslot arrangements shown and described or other equivalent slotarrangements in the arrow shaft.

It will be apparent from the above description that I have providedfletchings in the form of thin flexible material which will be of such anature that it will function properly to guide and stabilize the arroweven after repeated use of the arrow. The fletchings will be formed byfletching sections, each of which provides a pair of the radiallyextending fletchings by being positioned in adjacent radial slotportions which meet at the center of the shaft. The radial slot portionsmay be angularly spaced at or at any angle less than 180. If at 180",the two halves of the fletching section will be diametrically opposed.If at any other angle, the two halves will be formed on a unitaryfletching section which extends around a corner at the junction of thetwo adjacent radial slot portions. If at least two of said fletchingsections are provided and at least three of said radially projectingslot portions are provided, two halves of different fletching sectionscan be in a common slot in face to face contact with each other.

The inherent elastic or resilient nature of the material of thefletching section is employed to prevent displacement from the slot ofthe shaft by forming the stop projections therein. These projections canbe compressed as necessary to permit insertion into the slot of theshaft and final positioning of the fletching section therein when theprojections will expand to serve as the stop projections. No otherfastening means will be necessary but the fletching sections can bepositively withdrawn for replacement in case of damage.

According to the provisions of the patent statues, the principles ofthis invention have been explained and have been illustrated anddescribed in what is now considered to represent the best embodiment.However, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appendedclaims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallyillustrated and described.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed 1s:

1. An arrow shaft having fletchings thereon, said fletchings beingdisposed in a longitudinally extending slot in the shaft which has atleast two radially disposed portions that communicate at the axis of theshaft, said slot being disposed longitudinally within the length of theshaft so that both the leading and trailing ends thereof are closed toprovide unslotted shaft portions ahead of and behind the slot to giveadequate strength to the shaft, said fletchings being on a singlefletching section which is disposed within the two radially disposedslot portions and extends radially outwardly therefrom, each of saidfletchings having stop projections formed integrally in one piece withthe fletching adjacent the outer ends of the cooperating radial slotportions to prevent normal displacement of the fletching section fromthe slot, said fletching section having a band area between the stopprojections of said fletchings which is free of the projections and isdisposed substantially within said slot and is of a radial extent justslightly greater than the radial extent of the two radial portions ofsaid slot, said stop projections projecting a distance greater than thewidth of the cooperating radial portions of the slot but beingcompressible to a degree that they are of lesser extent than the widthof the slot to permit passage therethrough in the initial positioning ofthe fletching section in the slot.

2. An article according to claim 1 in which the projections arecorrugations throughout the area of the radially projecting fletchings.

3. An article according to claim 1 in which the projections areelongated ribs,

4. An article according to claim 1 in which the projections are rows oflongitudinally spaced projections.

5. An arrow shaft having fletchings thereon, said fletchings beingdisposed in longitudinally extending angularly spaced radial slots whichextend into the shaft and meet at the axis thereof, said slots beingdisposed longitudinally within the length of the shaft so that both theleading and trailing ends thereof are closed to provide unslotted shaftportions ahead of and behind the slots to give adequate strength to theshaft, two halves of said fletchings being formed by a unitary flexiblefletching section which extends around a corner at the junction of thetwo adjacent slots and the corner being included within the twoangularly related halves of the fletching section that extend outthrough the angularly related slots to project nadially outwardly beyondthe surface of the shaft, at least two of said fletching sections beingprovided and at least three of said slots being provided, two halves ofdifierent fletching sections which are in two of said slots being in acommon slot in face to face con- 6 tact with each other, said fletchingsections having projections thereon formed integrally in one piece withthe fletchings which engage the shaft at the outer end of each radialslot.

6. An arrow shaft having fletchings thereon, said fletchings beingdisposed in longitudinally extending angularly spaced radial slots whichextend into the shaft and meet at the axis thereof, said slots beingdisposed longitudinally within the length of the shaft so that both theleading and trailing ends thereof are closed to provide unslotted shaftportions ahead of and behind the slots to give adequate strength to theshaft, a pair of said fletchings being formed by a unitary flexiblefletching section which extends around a corner at the junction of thetwo adjacent slots and which is included within the two angularlyrelated halves of the fletching section that extend out through theangularly related slots to project radially outwardly beyond the surfaceof the shaft, and projections on said fletching section formedintegnally in one piece with the fletching section which engage saidshaft adjacent the outer ends of said radial slot.

7. An arrow shaft having fletchings thereon, said fletching beingdisposed in a slot in the shaft which has at least two outwardlyextending portions that extend outwardly to the surface of the shaft andcommunicate with each other within the shaft, said slot being disposedlongitudinally within the length of the shaft so that both the leadingand trailing ends thereof are closed to provide unslotted shaft portionsahead of and behind the slot to give adequate strength to the shaft,said fletchings being on a single fletching section which is disposedwithin the two slot portions and extends outwardly therefrom, each ofsaid fletchings having a stop projection formed integrally in one piecewith the fletching adjacent the outer end of each cooperating slotportion to prevent normal displacement of the fletching section from theslot, said fletching section having a band area between the stopprojections of said fletchings which is free of the projections and isdisposed within the slot and is of an extent just slightly greater thanthe combined extent of the two outwardly extending slot portions, saidstop projections projecting a distance greater than the width of thecooperating outwardly extending portions of the slot but beingcompressible to a degree that they are of lesser extent than the widthof the slot to permit passage therethrough in the initial positioning ofthe fletching section in the slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,444,913 Hampel Feb. 13, 1923 2,182,296 Lowy Dec. 5, 1939 2,882,055Meyer Apr. 14, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 514,085 Great Britain Oct. 30, 1939628,041 Great Britain Aug. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No 2,976,043 March 21, 1961 LeonardSm Meyer It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numberedpetent reqiiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should readas corrected below.

Column 3 line 58, for ,"extended" read expanded Signed and sealed this8th day of August 1961,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents

